Rio Tinto Coal Australia states in its fourth quarter operations review, that its coking coal production was higher last year due to longwall and plant "outperformance" at its Kestrel mine.

While Anglo American Australia's activity solely in the Bowen Basin wasn't available, the company said its metallurgical coal production, excluding the impact of the divestment of Foxleigh, increased "due to production ramping up at Grosvenor, increased cutting hours and rates at Moranbah and productivity gains at Dawson".

"These increases have been partially offset by geological issues and a subsequent longwall move at Grasstree in 4Q16," the company stated.

Additionally, "increased thermal coal production from Hail Creek, Kestrel and Mt Thorley Warkworth partially offset lower volumes" from the restructure of Coal and Allied and its divestments.

Generally, companies offered an optimistic outlook for the year ahead, with most expecting a bump in production.

Wesfarmers also remains positive about projects, despite a small fall in coal output.

Meanwhile, output at Wesfarmers Resources' Curragh mine dropped slightly. However, figures should improve in Wesfarmers' next operations report, assuming wet weather does not have an impact on mine operations, such as in the previous quarter.